Loose-leaf binder



G. BUCHHOLZ LOOSE LEAF BINDER Nov. 2 .192 1,604,967

Filed Feb. 7, 1925 2 Sheets-Shoat l Attorneys NW, 2 I926.

G. BUCHHOLZ LoosE LEAF BINDER Fiied Feb. 7. 1925 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LE2 van fiz- GEGRG BUCHHOLZ, OF BEBL IN-FBIEDENAU, GERMANY.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed February 7, 1925, Serial No. 7,658, and in Germany February 15, 1924.

This invention relates to a loose-leaf binder, which may be used as account book or as file for loose documents, letters or the like. which possesses the advantage that when the tile is open the leaves lie flat upon. the covers of the file so that they can be read or written. upon up to the inner edge as in a book with lined binding, the leaves or sheets not getting loose. 'lhis effect, known per se, is obtained. according to the invention, by attaching the straps or the like, on which the leaves or sheets are threaded by means of an incision of corresponding shape, at one end to swivelling bar, the pile of leaves on the other side being held by a clamping bar adapted to be secured in its different positions. @wing to this arrangement the liling straps or bands are curved in upward directionwhen the file is opened and the leaves or sheets are turned over, the one of said bars turnin slightly in outward direction whereby a larger space for the pile of sheets is created. The clamping bar threaded on the straps or bands may also be pivotally mounted so that both bars are able to turn in outward direction when the file is being opened.

T he leaves or sheets have preferably, besides the filing holes, a fold which promotes the flat position of the leaves in the open file.

An embodiment of the invention is shown, by way of example, on the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates the mechanism in a perspective View.

Fig. 2 shows in side elevation the open file.

Fig. 3 is a similar view as Fig. 2 the mechanism being open.

4 is a fragmentary plan view of the edge-portion of two adjacent leaves.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the leaves,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified construction, and

Fig. 7 a sectional plan view of this modification.

The mechanism of the hinder or tile consists of a rectangular frame composed of two longitudinal bars 1, 2 and of two cross bars 6, 7 and strengthened by means of cross rods 3, 4, 5. On both ends, between the cross rods 3 and 5 respectively and the corresponding short sides 6 and 7 of the frame respectively, gaps 22 are formed. The frame is fixed by means of the cross rods 3, 4, 5 in the back 27, 28 of a. file the cover of which consists of two hinged parts 29.

Parallel with the longitudinal sides of this frame two movable bars 14 and 20 are arranged in said frame the ends 15 and 23 of these bars engaging with the gaps or guide slots 22. The bar 14 is adapted to be fixed by a clamping device at any point of the gap 22 between the two longitudinal sides 1, 2. In the form of construction shown byway of example slides 10, 11 serve for securely fixing bar 14, the ends of said slides engaging between teeth 8, 9 of the short sides 6, 7 of the frame. The slides 10, 11 have on their inner ends handles 16 between which a spring 17 is enclosed which has the tendency to hold the slides in engagement with the teeth. The slides are connected with the bar 14 by means of pins 13 engaging with slots 12 and they have apertures 18 through which the bands 21 pass. Any other clamping mechanism of convenient construction may be used. The second bar 20 is freely movable and has at its ends guide studs 23 formed by incisions 24, said studs engaging with the gap 22 of the short sides of the frame so that they are adapted to be displaced and turned within the gap. This bar 20 can therefore be shifted and swivelled about the pivots 23 so that the end faces 24 do not come in contact with the teeth 8. The one end 25 of each of the filing straps or hands 21 are attached to the bar 20, the other ends of the same being fixed at '26 to the long side 1 of the frame, the bands having been passed through the slots 19 of the clamping bar 14. These filing bands 21 which are parallel to the short sides of the frame are of a length approximately equal to the interval between the two l0ngitudinal sides 1 and 2 of the frame. The points 25, 26 at which the bands are lined and the incisions 19 of the bar 14 are situated in the same plane. The apertures 18 of the slides 10, 11 are of such dimensions that upon engaging with and releasing from the teeth 8, 9 the edges of said apertures do not come in contact with the bands 21. The leaves or sheets 30, 31 are filed on. said bars 14. 20 by means of the filing holes 33. With this object in view the perforations 33 are extended, in a manner known per se, by incisions 32 to the edge of the sheet so that the sheets can be filed on the bands from the side. The sheets are folded on the edge 37 at the side of the holes, the

crease 34: being sheet. I

The operation of the hinder or file is easy to understand from the drawings. lVhen the binder is opened, the folded edges 37 of the sheets 30, 81, pressed strongly together by the clamping bar ll, are pulled in up ward direction but prevented, by the bands 21, from getting detached so that they form an arch with narrow middle gap 36 (Fig. 9D. The bands 21 are also pulled upward whereby the freely movable bar 20, on which the vends of the bands 21 are attached, turns slightly in the guide gap 22. The filing edges of the filed sheets remain consequently ed strongly together and the sheets lie on the covers 29 of the file so that reading and writing on the sheets can be done as in a book with fixed binding. in the form of construction shown only the movable bar 20 is adapted to be turned but bar l i also may be rendered pivotal by a similar construction of its guide studs 15.

Such a modification is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. In this case the slides 10 and 11 are made with pointed ends and the ends 15 of the bar l l are also narrow so that the bar 14L may take up an inclined position.

WVhen the binder or file is closed by raising the covers 29 the sheets drop, by the action of their weight, down again onto the bearing surface consisting of the cross rods 3, l, 5 fixed on the lower side of the frame and they push the loose barQO away from bar 1a which is secured in its position by clamping. The folded edges are then again situated in the horizontal plane and the bands 21 form a straight line.

Instead of the bands, strings. spiral-shaped wires and other flexible or elastic elements may he used.

When the binder is used as a letter file two bands, strings or the like will be suiiicient.

Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, I declare that what I claim is 1. A loose-leaf binder comprising a frame, loose sheets having incisions, two bars having slits registering with said incisions, said parallel to the edge of the eo nee? bars being movably mounted within said frame on both sides of said sheets, flexible means passing through said incisions and said slits, one end of said means being attached to said frame, the other end to one of said bars, this bar being pivotally mounted within said frame and means for fixing the other bar on the frame.

2. A loose-leaf binder comprising a frame, loose sheets having incisions, two bars having slits registering with said incisions, said barsbeing movably and pivotally mounted within said frame on both sides of said sheets, flexible means passing through said incisions of the sheets and through said slits, one end of said means being attached to said frame, the other end to one of said bars and means for fixing the other bar on said frame.

3. A loose-leaf binder comprising a frame, loose sheets having incisions and at the side of said incisions'a fold extending parallel to the edge of said sheets, two bars having slits registering with said incisions, said bars being movably and pivotally mounted within 5 said frame on both sides of said sheets, flexiblemeans passing through said incisions of the sheets and through said slits, one end of said means being attached to said frame, he other end to one of said bars and means for fixing the other bar on said frame.

said strips, said movable bar having slits,

flexible means passing through said slits one end of said means being attached to one of said longitudinal bars, the other end to said freely movable bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORG BUCHHOLZ. 

